(San Marcos) — The Gary Job Corps Center in neighboring San Marcos will close its doors this summer as part of a nationwide shutdown of contractor-operated Job Corps centers.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced this week it will pause operations at all such centers by June 30, 2025, citing poor outcomes, safety concerns, and growing financial deficits. The move impacts dozens of locations across the country, including Gary Job Corps — the closest center to Seguin and one that has served thousands of South Central Texas students over the years.
Federal officials say the decision comes after a sweeping internal review that found the Job Corps program is no longer achieving the results intended when it was created to help young adults gain education and job training.
In its first-ever transparency report, the department revealed that the average graduation rate sits below 40 percent, while the average cost per graduate exceeds $155,000.
Despite those costs, students earn just $16,695 on average in their first year after leaving the program.
The report also highlighted safety issues, including more than 14,000 serious incidents in the last program year, with hundreds of cases involving violence, drug use, and sexual misconduct.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said the pause will allow for a re-evaluation of the program’s structure and future. In the meantime, the department says it will work with local and state partners to help current students complete their training or transition to other education and employment opportunities.
The Labor Department released a FAQ (frequently asked question) page to better explain the meaning of the pause. You can find that here.